U.S. patent number 7,598,915 [Application Number 11/902,021] was granted by the patent office on 2009-10-06 for bobbin for bar antenna, antenna and door handle for a vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Kiyokazu Ieda, Eiji Mushiake, Sumitaka Sato.
United States Patent |
7,598,915 |
Ieda , et al. |
October 6, 2009 |
Bobbin for bar antenna, antenna and door handle for a vehicle
Abstract
The bobbin for the bar antenna includes a core supporting
portion into which a bar shaped ferromagnetic core is inserted and
supported. The core supporting portion is attached to at least one
end of the bar antenna formed by the core around which a conductive
wire material is wound. The bobbin further includes a conductive
wire material fixing portion for fixing the conductive wire
material and a core holding portion for sandwiching the core
inserted into the core supporting portion from both sides opposing
to each other and firmly pressing by a tension force of the
conductive wire material wound thereon.
Inventors: |
Ieda; Kiyokazu (Kariya,
JP), Mushiake; Eiji (Chita-gun, JP), Sato;
Sumitaka (Chiryu, JP) |
Assignee: |
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
(Kariya-Shi, Aichi-Ken, JP)
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Family
ID: |
39134556 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/902,021 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080068129 A1 |
Mar 20, 2008 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 20, 2006 [JP] |
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2006-254524 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
343/713; 343/787;
343/895 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
25/246 (20130101); E05B 81/77 (20130101); H01Q
7/08 (20130101); H01Q 1/3283 (20130101); E05B
85/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01Q
1/32 (20060101); H01Q 1/00 (20060101); H01Q
1/36 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;343/711,713,787,895,893 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2001-358522 |
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Dec 2001 |
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JP |
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2004-176343 |
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Jun 2004 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Chen; Shih-Chao
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
PC
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A bobbin for a bar antenna comprising a core supporting portion
into which a bar shaped ferromagnetic core is inserted and
supported, the core supporting portion being attached to at least
one end of the bar antenna formed by the bar shaped ferromagnetic
core around which a conductive wire material is wound, a conductive
wire material fixing portion for fixing the conductive wire
material and a core holding portion for sandwiching the bar shaped
ferromagnetic core inserted into the core supporting portion from
opposing both sides and firmly pressing by a tension force of the
conductive wire material wound thereon.
2. The bobbin for a bar antenna according to claim 1, wherein the
bar antenna includes an elastic portion contacting with a casing
member of a door handle to which the bar antenna is attached for
defining a position of the bar antenna relative to the casing
member.
3. The bobbin for a bar antenna according to claim 2, further
comprising an antenna supporting portion for supporting the bar
antenna to a tool for winding the conductive wire material on the
ferromagnetic core.
4. The bar antenna according to claim 2, wherein the bobbin for the
bar antenna is provided at both ends of the ferromagnetic core.
5. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 2, wherein a
chamfer portion is provided at a bottom edge of the bobbin in a
longitudinal direction of the ferromagnetic core and positioned at
the opposite end of the elastic portion which contacts with the
casing member to which the bar antenna is attached.
6. The bobbin for a bar antenna according to claim 1, further
comprising an antenna supporting portion for supporting the bar
antenna to a tool for winding the conductive wire material on the
ferromagnetic core.
7. The bar antenna according to claim 6, wherein the bobbin for the
bar antenna is provided at both ends of the ferromagnetic core.
8. The bar antenna according to claim 1, wherein the bobbin for the
bar antenna is provided at both ends of the ferromagnetic core.
9. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 1, wherein a
sidewall is provided at the both ends in shorter direction of the
core.
10. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 9, wherein
the sidewall includes a groove and a detent portion.
11. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 9, further
including a plurality of wire fixing portions having an extended
portions provided with a predetermined interval with the
sidewall.
12. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 1, wherein
the core holding portion includes a guide projection and a detent
portion.
13. A door handle device provided on a vehicle door and operated
upon door closing and opening operations by a user of the vehicle,
the handle further including a communication function for
communication with a remote control device carried by the user of
the vehicle and detecting a user's operation of the door handle
device, the door handle device comprising a bar antenna positioned
to a casing of the door handle device by an elastic portion and
communicating with the remote control device carried by the user of
the vehicle and an electrode plate housed in the door handle device
opposite to the bar antenna and opposite to a door panel for
detecting the user's operation of the door handle device, the bar
antenna comprising a bobbin comprised of a core supporting portion
into which a bar shaped ferromagnetic core is inserted and
supported, the core supporting portion being attached to at least
one end of the bar antenna formed by the bar shaped ferromagnetic
core around which a conductive wire material is wound, a conductive
wire material fixing portion for fixing the conductive wire
material and a core holding portion for sandwiching the bar shaped
ferromagnetic core inserted into the core supporting portion from
both opposing sides and firmly pressing by a tension force of the
conductive wire material wound on the ferromagnetic core.
14. The door handle device according to claim 13, wherein the
bobbin is a first bobbin provided at one end of the ferromagnetic
core, and further comprising a second bobbin at an opposite end of
the ferromagnetic core.
15. The bobbin for the bar antenna according to claim 13, wherein a
chamfer portion is provided at a bottom edge of the bobbin in a
longitudinal direction of the ferromagnetic core and positioned at
an opposite end of the elastic portion which contacts the casing
member to which the bar antenna is attached.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 to Japanese Patent Application 2006-254524, filed on
Sep. 20, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bobbin for a bar antenna, and
more particularly to a bobbin attached to at least one end of a bar
antenna formed by winding a conductive wire member around a bar
shaped ferromagnetic core and a bar antenna using the bobbin. This
invention further relates to a door handle for a vehicle using the
bar antenna.
BACKGROUND
A smart entry system has been recently applied to a vehicle door
lock system. This smart entry system detects the behavior of the
user of the vehicle, such as approaching to the vehicle for opening
the door or getting off the vehicle and executes automatic door
locking or unlocking operation in response to such detected user's
behavior. In more detail, the smart entry system detects the user's
door locking and unlocking operation based on the user's operation
of a door handle provided on the door of the vehicle. For example,
according to this system, the door lock is released when the user
outside the vehicle approaches his or her vehicle and touches the
door handle with a hand for opening operation.
The behavior of the user of the vehicle, such as approaching to the
vehicle or getting off the vehicle can be recognized by a
communication between a hand carried device (such as a remote
control), which a user of a vehicle carries with him or her, and a
vehicle inside device. The radio wave communication is usually made
through a bar antenna provided on the door handle of the vehicle.
One of such bar antenna devices is disclosed in a Japanese Patent
2001-358522 A (in columns 12 through 39 and FIG. 1 or 2) or another
Japanese Patent 2004-176343 A (in columns 44 through 46 and FIG.
1). According to the first publication (Japanese Patent 2001-358522
A), the disclosed bar antenna includes a ferromagnetic core portion
and a bobbin enclosing the core portion and carrying a coil
thereon. Both core and the bobbin are housed in a housing case and
sealed within the housing case by a potting agent or the like.
Accordingly, the anti-water (water resistance) performance is very
high due to the sealed structure. However, solidification has to be
made after filling the potting agent in the housing case. This will
increase a manufacturing process, which eventually increases the
manufacturing cost. According to the second publication (Japanese
Patent 2004-176343 A), the bar antenna includes a rectangular solid
ferrite and a vehicle use wire harness wound directly around the
ferrite. This antenna structure is very simple in use structure by
only a ferrite and a covering wire harness. This antenna structure
also is superior in anti-water performance. This is because the
structure has no connecting portions, just extending the wire
harness for connection purpose. However, the structure may be
unstable in antenna performance unless the ferrite and the wire
harness are securely fixed. In order to securely fix the two
members, a heat forming process is used to fix the harness on the
ferrite core by plasticity deforming the wire harness by applying
heat. This can stabilize the wire harness to the ferrite, but it
needs extra processing, such as a heat processing, which eventually
increases the manufacturing cost.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
bobbin for a bar antenna which can be assembled in simple way with
less number of manufacturing process.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved bar
antenna using the improved bobbin in simple way with less number of
processing.
It is still further object of the invention to provide a door
handle for a vehicle having a high durability using the improved
bar antenna in simple way with less number of processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, the bobbin for the bar
antenna includes a core supporting portion into which a bar shaped
ferromagnetic core is inserted and supported. The core supporting
portion is attached to at least one end of the bar antenna formed
by the core around which a conductive wire material is wound. The
bobbin further includes a conductive wire material fixing portion
for fixing the conductive wire material and a core holding portion
for sandwiching the core inserted into the core supporting portion
from both sides opposing to each other and firmly pressing by a
tension force of the conductive wire material wound thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a door handle on a
door of the vehicle according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the door handle taken along
the line II-II in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3(A) is an exploded view of bar antenna assembling process
according to the invention;
FIG. 3(B) is similar to FIG. 3(A), but showing the core 1 and the
bobbin 2 being assembled;
FIG. 3(C) is similar to FIG. 3(B), but showing the coil wire 3
being additionally assembled;
FIG. 3(D) is similar to FIG. 3(C), but showing the intermediate
case being assembled;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the door handle with the bar
antenna housed inside the door handle;
FIG. 5(A) is a top view of the bobbin for the bar antenna;
FIG. 5(B) is a side view of the bobbin for the bar antenna;
FIG. 5(C) is a front view of the bobbin for the bar antenna;
and
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the bar antenna explaining the winding
method of coil member.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the embodiment, the door handle and the bar antenna are adapted
to be used in a smart entry system for the vehicle. The bar antenna
is housed in the door handle of the smart entry system and the
bobbin for a bar antenna (just simply called as "bobbin" instead of
"bobbin for a bar antenna") is one of the components forming the
bar antenna. FIG. 1 is a view showing the door of the vehicle and
the door handle for opening or closing the door and FIG. 2 shows
the door handle in cross section.
As shown in FIG. 1, a door panel 60 (outside door panel) is
equipped with a door handle 50 for opening or closing the door and
secured to the door by a door handle frame provided inside the door
panel 60 (Frame is not shown in the drawings). The door handle 50
includes a handle body 5 and a handle cap 51. A key cylinder 52 is
provided at the handle cap 51 for locking or unlocking a door lock
mechanism (not shown) by inserting and rotating a key by manual
operation of the user.
The door lock system (mechanism) according to this embodiment of
the invention includes a control mechanism (not shown) for
automatically controlling the door lock/unlock operation by
recognizing approaching action of the user of the vehicle who
carries a remote control carrying device. For example, when the
user of the vehicle approaches the vehicle, such action is
recognized at the vehicle side and further when the user touches
the door handle 50 for operation such action is also recognized and
the door lock is automatically released for opening of the door by
the door handle operation.
This is also applied to the action for locking the door. For
example, when the user gets off the vehicle with the remote control
carrying device, the system recognizes that the user is out of the
vehicle and further, when the user operates the door handle 50 or
the door with the intention of closing and locking the door, such
locking action (including an intention) is recognized and the door
is locked.
The remote control carrying device includes a receiving system for
receiving the radio waves from the vehicle and a transmitting
system for transmitting the radio waves to the vehicle and a
control system for processing the receiving signals and/or sending
signals. Generally, the receiving system and transmitting system
include antenna, tuner and data set circuit, whereas the control
system includes a microcomputer.
In the vehicle, a system ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and a
receiving antenna are arranged. The system ECU controls general
operation of the door lock mechanism (system) and recognizes the
approach of user who carries a device (remote control carrying
device) to the vehicle by communicating therewith. The receiving
antenna receives transmitting signal from the carrying device and
is normally housed in a room mirror where the electric wave
receiving condition is relatively good.
As shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the door handle 50 further includes a bar
antenna 10 for transmitting a signal to the remote control carrying
device located outside the vehicle and an electrode plate 6 for an
electric capacitance sensor for detecting the user's operation of
the door handle 50. The antenna wire arrangement (a coil wire 3 or
conductive wire material, which will be later explained in detail)
of the bar antenna and the sensor wire arrangement are guided from
an inside opening 50a (see FIG. 2) of the door handle 50 into the
door panel 60.
As shown in FIG. 2, the handle body 5 of the door handle 50 is
formed by an inner case 5a, an outer case 5b and an exterior case
5c. The inner and outer cases 5a and 5b are connected to each other
to provide an inner space therebetween. The bar antenna 10 and the
electrode plate 6 for the sensor are housed in the inner space
formed by the inner and outer cases 5a and 5b. The exterior case 5c
is attached to the outer case 5b from outside to provide a
decorative surface on the outer side of the handle 50.
The opposite side (inside) of the door handle 50 relative to the
door panel side 60 is provided with the electrode 6 for the
electric capacitance sensor. The electrode plate 6 is attached to
the inner surface of the inner case 5a. When the user of the
vehicle intends to open the door, he or she usually pulls the door
handle by hand. The hand of the user is inserted between outside of
the door handle 50 and the door panel 60. Then the electric
capacitance between the electrode plate 6 and the door panel 60 is
changed. This capacitance change is detected and such capacitance
change is determined that a user of the vehicle operates the door
handle 50.
The bar antenna 10 is provided in the handle body 5 opposite to the
electrode plate 6. The bar antenna 10 transmits an electric signal
to the remote control carrying device carried by the user
positioned outside of the vehicle. Basically the bar antenna is
provided in the inner space of the handle body 5 at the outside of
the vehicle. A portion (elastic portion 23) of the bar antenna 10
is in elastic contact with the inner wall of the outer case 5b. The
bar antenna 10 is fixed to the outer case 5b by the biasing force
generated at the elastic portion of the antenna 10. At the same
time, the elastic portion 23 of the bar antenna 10 also biases the
electrode plate 6 towards the other sidewall of the inner case 5a
to fix the electrode plate 6 in stable in the inner space of the
handle body 5.
The detail structure of the bar antenna 10 will be explained with
reference to the attached drawings FIGS. 3(A) through 6. FIG. 3(A)
through FIG. 3(D) show the steps for assembling the bar antenna.
The bar antenna is formed by winding a single coil wire 3
(conductive wire material) around a ferromagnetic core 1 with a
rectangular bar shape in cross section. The winding is made by one
continuous line. The bar antenna 10 also includes a bobbin 2A at
one end of the core 1 and another bobbin 2B at the other end of the
core 1. In this embodiment, the bobbin 2 is provided at both ends
of the core, but may be provided at either one of the core
ends.
FIG. 5 (A) through FIG. 5(C) shows the bobbin 2 in three directions
(top, side and front). The bobbin 2 (2A, 2B) includes a core
supporting portion 21 for slidably supporting the core 1 by
inserting the core therein as shown in FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B).
The bobbin 2 further includes a sidewall 24 with a contact portion
24c. The contact portion 24c of the side wall 24 contacts with an
intermediate case member 4 (see FIG. 3(D)) attached to the bar
antenna 10. The position of the bar antenna 10 is defined by this
intermediate case member 4 and is fixed thereto. The intermediate
case member 4 may be the inner case 5a of the handle body 5 or the
outer case 5b of the handle body 5. It is also possible to use a
separate member as the intermediate case member such as for example
the member 4 shown in FIG. 3(D). These inner case 5a, outer case 5b
handle body 5 and the separate intermediate case member 4 form the
handle-casing member in the claim of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 5(C), the sidewall 24 is formed with a groove 24b
and a detent 24a. The width of the groove 24b is approximately the
size of the diameter of the coil wire 3 and this groove 24b forms a
part of a route for the coil wire 3 to form the bar antenna. When
the coil wire 3 is not positioned in the groove 24b, then the
groove 24b serves as a discharge (drain) passage for the water
entered into the casing member (5a, 5b, 5c and 4). The outer
inclined portion of the detent 24a functions to guide the bobbin 2
to the casing member when the contact portion 24c engages with or
contacts with the casing member. The inner inclined portion of the
detent 24a functions to guide the coil wire into the groove 24b
when the coil wire passes through the groove 24b.
The bobbin 2 further includes a wire-fixing portion 22 (conductive
material fixing portion) extending with an interval 28 from the
sidewall 24. The expanded volume of the wire-fixing portion 22 is
approximately the same as that of the sidewall 24. The wire-fixing
portion 22 also includes a detent and a groove similar to the
sidewall 24. The width of the groove is approximately the same size
of the diameter of the coil wire 3. The interval 28 also is
approximately the same as the diameter of the wire coil 3.
Accordingly, the coil wire 3 can be held by the wire-fixing portion
22 at either one of the interval 28 or the groove of the
wire-fixing portion 22.
The bobbin 2 includes a core holding portion 26 which sandwiches
the core 1 inserted into the core-supporting portion 21 from both
sides by utilizing the wire winding tension force. The core holding
portion 26 has a thickness thinner than the sidewall 24 or the
wire-fixing portion 22 so that the core holding portion 26 can
sandwich the core 1 with enough tension force of the coil wire. In
order to effectively utilize the tension force, the core holding
portion 26 is provided with a guide projection 26a so that the coil
wire is not overlapped or jammed and a fastening portion 26b which
prevents the coil wire 3 from sliding towards the core 1 side at
the boundary of the core holding portion 26 when the coil is wound
around from the core holding portion to the core 1.
It is noted that the core holding portion 26a is positioned at the
core central side relative to the wire-fixing portion 22 (at the
right side in FIG. 5(A)) so that the coil wire 3 fixed by the wire
fixing portion 22 is wound around the core holding portion 26a to
fix the core 1 with the bobbin 2. Thereafter the coil wire 3 is
wound around the central portion of the core 1. After the coil wire
3 has been wound around the central portion of the core 1, the coil
wire 3 is wound around the core holding portion 26a to fix the core
1 with the bobbin 2. Thereafter, the wire-fixing portion 22 can fix
the coil wire 3.
The bobbin 2 has the elastic portion 23 as mentioned above. The
elastic portion is of plate spring structure and includes a tip end
23a which engages with the handle body 5 to which the bar antenna
10 is attached. By the contact or engagement between the elastic
portion 23 and the handle body 5, the position of the bar antenna
10 can be defined.
A chamfer portion 25 is provided at the edge portion of the bottom
of the bobbin 2. The chamfer portion 25 extends in a longitudinal
direction of the core 1. This bottom portion contacts with the
handle body 5 (casing member) to which the bar antenna 10 is
attached.
The cross section of the chamfer portion 25 shows a right triangle.
It is preferable that any one of the height of the triangle from
the hypotenunuse as the bottom side, the length of the opposite
side and the length of the adjacent sides is equal to or more than
the diameter of the coil wire 3.
The space between the chamfer portion 25 and the casing member
(handle body 5) can be used for guiding the coil wire 3 in the
casing member if any one of the height of the triangle cross
section of the chamfer portion 25 corresponds to any one of the
height of the triangle from the oblique side as the bottom side,
the length of the opposite side and the length of the adjacent
sides is equal to or more than the diameter of the coil wire 3.
It is also preferable to discharge the water in the casing member
using the gap between the handle body 5 (casing member) and the
chamfer portion 25. The gap is connected to the gap between the
core and the casing member and the water is discharged from the gap
to the exterior of the handle.
Further, the bobbin 2 includes a holding portion 27 for holding the
bar antenna 10 on a tool for winding the coil wire around the core
1. The detail of the tool will be explained later.
The process for assembling the bar antenna will be explained with
reference to the attached drawings (FIG. 3 (A), FIG. 3(B) and FIG.
3(C)). First, the bobbins 2A and 2B are attached to each end of the
ferromagnetic bar type core 1 having the rectangular in cross
section. The core is inserted into each core-supporting portion 21
of the bobbins 2A and 2B for supporting the core. (FIG. 3(A) and
FIG. 3(B)).
Next, the coil wire 3 is wound around the core 1 by rotating the
intermediate assembly (FIG. 3(B)) holding the antenna-supporting
portion 27 of the bobbin 2 to the tool (not shown). FIG. 3(C) is a
perspective view of the core 1 on which the coil wire 3 is wound.
FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the bar antenna 10 explaining the
method of winding the coil wire on the core. Reference symbol S
indicates a winding start portion (one end), reference symbol E
indicates winding end portion (the other end) of the coil wire
3.
The coil wire 3 is first sandwiched between the bobbin sidewall 24
and the wire-fixing portion 22 and fixed to the gap 28
therebetween. Then the coil wire 3 is wound twice (two rounds) at
the core holding portion 26.
The core 1 is securely held on the bobbin 2A through the core
holding portion 26 by the tension force of the coil wire. Then the
coli wire 3 is further wound around the core 1 with a predetermined
number of round to reach to the other bobbin 2B. The coil wire 3 is
wound around the core 1 for two rounds at the core holding portion
26. The coil wire 3 is fixed at the gap 28 between the sidewall 24
and the wire-fixing portion 22. The winding end portion E is guided
to the winding start side.
The bar antenna 10 on which the coil wire 3 is wound is attached to
the intermediate member 4 (FIG. 3(D)). As shown in FIG. 4, the bar
antenna 10 is attached to the inner case 5a of the handle 50
together with the intermediate member 4. The tip end S and the rear
end E of the coil wire 3 are guided into the inner side of the door
handle 60 through an opening 50a provided on the inner case 5a.
Thus the coil wire forming the bar antenna 10 is formed by the
insulated covered harness in the inner space of the handle 50. The
bar antenna 10 does not have any electrical contacts and
accordingly, the water invasion problem that the water enters into
the inner space of the door handle may less influence on the bar
antenna The durability is improved far better than the bar antenna
with the electric contact.
As indicated above, the electrode plate 6 for the electric
capacitance sensor is housed in the inner case 5a of the door
handle 50 between the inner case 5a and the bar antenna 10. When
the inner case 5a engages with the outer case 5b, the elastic
portion 23 of the bar antenna 10 contacts with the outer case 5b in
the inner space of the door handle body 5. BY the biasing force of
the elastic portion 23 of the bar antenna 10, the bar antenna 10,
intermediate member 4 and the electrode plate 6 of the electric
capacitance sensor are pressed towards the inner case 5a for
securing the bar antenna to the case member.
The case member includes a separate intermediate case member 4, but
it may be directly attached to the door handle 50 or the casing to
which the bar antenna is attached.
According to the embodiment illustrated above, the bar antenna is
attached to the door handle 50, but it may be provided at the door
mirror or room mirror. The bar antenna is utilized as the outside
sending antenna, but it may be used as a receiving antenna or
sending/receiving antenna.
According to the structure above, the core inserted into the
core-supporting portion is firmly held by the core holding portion,
which is elastically deformed upon the conductive wire material
being wound around the core with a tension force. Thus the core and
the bobbin for bar antenna (or simply "bobbin") are fixed without
using any bonding agent. The conductive wire material can be fixed
to the bobbin by winding the conductive wire material around the
conductive wire material fixing portion. Thus the core and the
conductive wire material are fixed in stable condition through the
bobbin.
As the result, a bar antenna with a simple structure formed by a
core, a conductive wire and a bobbin can be stably fixed only
utilizing a tension force of the conductive wire material, without
using any sealant such as potting agent or without any heat
deforming processing.
In other words, according to this structure, a bobbin for bar
antenna can be assembled simply and with less number of
processing.
Further, according to the invention, the bobbin for the bar antenna
includes an elastic portion for positioning the bar antenna by
being in contact with a casing member of the door handle in which
the bar antenna is attached.
According to this structure, the position of the bar antenna can be
defined by the elastic portion being in contact with the casing
member and no extra positioning device is needed.
According to another aspect of the invention, the bobbin for the
bar antenna includes an antenna supporting portion for supporting
the conductive wire material on a tool for winding the conductive
wire material on the core.
According to the structure above, the conductive wire material can
be easily wound on the core without using any auxiliary device,
just using the elements composing the antenna.
According to further aspect of the invention, the bobbin for the
bar antenna is provided at both ends of the core.
According to still further aspect of the invention, the bobbin for
the bar antenna includes a chamfer portion provided at a bottom
edge of the bobbin in longitudinal direction of the core and
positioned opposite to the elastic portion.
It is preferable to discharge any water in the casing member
quickly as possible. The size of the bobbin is larger than that of
the outer diameter of the core because the bobbin receives therein
the core for holding. Therefore, the chamfer portion can be
provided at the bottom edge of the bobbin in longitudinal direction
of the core. This structure enables to establish communication
between the core peripheral portion and the bottom edge of the
bobbin. This communication makes a passage for flowing out the
water in the casing member of the door handle. Thus according to
this structure the water entered in the casing member of the door
handle can be discharged to improve the durability of the antenna
in the casing member.
According to the invention, the bobbin for the bar antenna includes
a sidewall extending both sides in shorter dimension of the core.
The positioning of the bar antenna relative to the casing member is
defined by the contact of the bar antenna with the sidewall. Thus
the fixing of the bar antenna to the casing can be achieved
according to the positioning above.
Further, the sidewall of the bobbin includes a groove and a detent.
The groove is used as a discharge passage for the water entered in
the casing member and the detent is used for properly guiding the
bobbin to the casing member and guiding the wire to the groove. The
assembling of the bobbin to the casing member can be easily made by
the deformation of the detent and the winding of the wire with the
groove is also easily made.
According to the invention, the bobbin includes a wire fixing
portion extending similarly to the sidewall with a predetermined
interval with the sidewall. Thus the coil wire can be fixed using
at least one of the interval and the groove.
According to the invention, the bobbin further includes a guide
projection and a fastening portion at the core holding portion.
By using such guide projection and the fastening portion, the coil
wire can be smoothly wound on the core by the assisting of the
guide projection to provide a proper tension for holding without
any overlapping problem or sliding of the core wire towards the
core side during the winding operation. Thus the core wire can be
wound around the predetermined position of the core holding
portion.
According to the present invention, the door handle for a vehicle
is installed on the door for operation of the vehicle user to open
or close the door. The door handle also detects such user's
operation to the door handle based on the establishment of
communication between the user's carrying device and the antenna
device in the door handle. The door handle includes a bobbin for a
bar antenna at the both ends of the core and the bar antenna
position of which is defined at the casing of the door handle by
the elastic portion and the bar antenna communicates with the
user's carrying communication device.
Further, the door handle includes a sensor electrode plate housed
in the door handle casing opposite to the bar antenna as well as a
door panel for a sensor for detecting user's operation to the door
handle.
According to the invention, the bar antenna with a bobbin is
positioned at the casing member in the door handle by the
elasticity of the elastic portion of the bobbin. Further, the
sensor electrode plate is secured inside the door handle by the
urging force of the elastic portion of the bobbin. These structure
enable for fittingly and accurately accommodating the bar antenna
and the sensor electrode plate. Thus the door handle according to
the invention improves durability and has a simple structure
without any extra fixing member, adhesion agent or any sealant.
The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of the
present invention have been described in the foregoing
specification. However, the invention, which is intended to be
protected, is not to be construed as limited to the embodiment
disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Others may make
variations and changes, and equivalents employed, without departing
from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is
expressly intended that all such variations, changes and
equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined in the claims, be embraced thereby.
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